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Screw Idols: the search for real, grassroots, street level talent in the ken of original South African music can only arise from a well-orchestrated, comprehensive, and professionally managed music competition like the Durex Ultimate Battle of the Bands.

The Battle (from its inception through to its 6th incarnation in 2011) was the brainchild of Authentic Ideas, a subsidiary of the Authentic Group, owned and run by Nancy Hillary and Clint McKeon. The two South African music industry experts began their involvement in the business in 1995, and have consistently promoted original and talented rock bands to their respective South African audiences. The company offers a diverse range of essential services, including: event, sponsorship and tour management; media promotions and band-brand management; and record label services. Additionally, and to point out Authentic Ideas’ impact on the ZA music scene, the company is responsible for: the successes of the Woodstock and Rand Easter Rock shows; the successful tours of numerous international acts, including Rodriguez, Blindside, Underoath and classic rockers Deep Purple. In terms of local artists, Sugardrive, Wonderboom, Tweak and Lonehill Estate have all been under the company’s umbrella at one point or another. Buy a camera, take your vitamin pills, get in touch with your sense of fun and support the local music scene!

The period of 1994-99 (coinciding with the first few years of the company) saw an explosion in the SA rock scene: although rock bands did exist prior to democratisation, their progress was hindered by a lack of appropriate venues to perform, and the generally conservative attitude adopted towards rock music, especially by religious organisations. By 1997, I can remember being 16, drunk from pints of draught served in plastic cups, and at a TUKS rag event held at its LC de Villiers sports grounds. The main attraction of the night (besides intoxicated University girls), was the musical line up, which included a bubble-gum booted Springbok Nude Girls, the Nine Inch Nails-cum-Rammstein inspired industrial group Battery-9, Sugardrive, and the truly entrancing Henry Ate, led by the vulnerably honest Karma Ann Swanepoel. Most South African rock fans were, perhaps, unaware that our country was capable of producing the high quality (and let it be said, insanely energetic) acts that can today be seen as the precursors to the current plethora of decidedly capable bands fighting it out for recognition.

And, due to the exponential growth of original ZA rock-orientated music, fight it out they must. Hence the Authentic Ideas conceived nation-wide battle of the bands. The basic idea informing the actual structure of the competition is similar in form to any national competitive event: knockout regional stages whittle down a diverse field of hopefuls to an elite few that must first take part in a semi-final stage before advancing to the next round: i.e. the finals. This stage, in turn, produces a single winner. Essentially, the protracted process is absolutely necessary in the attempt to identify a single, deserved winner from over 150 entrants. The R500-00 entry fee ensures that only bands who are serious about their art need apply for admission to the battle.

Ultimate victory in the competition, however, need not be the only impetus for entry: the experience itself could be beneficial to up-and-coming bands, and, further, the entered bands gain exposure on a popular platform. Regional/preliminary rounds were held in most metropolitan centres around SA, including: Jozi; Pretoria; Cape Town; Port Elizabeth; East London; Bloemfontein; Durban; Witbank; Potchefstroom; and Somerset West. The final event for the 2011 Ultimate Battle was held at the Cool Runnings in Fourways, on the 4th of June. It is well advised that before you go out and buy music from international bands, you first take a hard look at what our own country has to offer.